Flash light



Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,800

c. OSEAN FLASH LIGHT Filed March '24. 1922 Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES mama emu, OI -WOODCLIFF, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO NATIONA L COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION 01' NEW YORK.

V 1,680,800 PATENT OFFICE.

CARBON FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed Hare]: 24, 1922. Serial No. 548,880.

This invention relates to flashlights and particularly to an improved end cap and spare incandescent lamp holder therefor.

It is advantageous to have a spare lamp readily available to replace an inoperative lam of a flashlight, and it is most convement to carry this are lamp along with the flashlight, desirab y within a com artment in the end or bottom cap of the ashlight casing. Accordingly one object of this invention is to provide an improved bottom end cap for flashlight casings which has a spare lamp holder combined therewith in a manner that will not unduly increase the size of the casing. A further object of the invention is to provide a combined end cap and spare lamp holder which is especially adapted for use in conjunction with focusin flashlights. I

eneral, he foregoing objects are obtained by securing into the tubular body of a threaded end ca of the usual type, a rigid conductive shell t at rovides a spare lamp compartment within t e ca adapted to en gage the bottom end of a ashlight battery to support the latter and form a art of the circuit including said battery. n a flashlight of the focusing type, the rigid lamp holder shell may also serve as an abutment to adjust the battery longitudinally to change the position of the operative incandescent lampwith respect to the reflector.

The above and other objects and the novel featuresof the invention will be ap arent from the following description taken 1n connection ,with the. drawings in which Fig. 1 is a lon 'tudinal sectional view of a flashlight em dying the present invention, parts being shown in elevation.-- Figures 2 and 3 are respe'ctivel a longitudinal sectional view and am end view of the end cap and lam holder. shown .in Fig. 1. Figures 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 areviews of other types of combined end ca and lamp holder devices embodyingthis invention.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 8 of the drawing, a flashlig teasing C of metal or fibre has a flaring, end F that surrounds a reflector R and a glassor lens L. A miniature incandescent ,lamp A is mounted in the axis of the reflector so that the reflector and lamp are-relativel movable with respect to each other. alon t e axis of the reflector to vary the spread of the rays from the lamp.

In the present instance the lam is so mounted that it may be movable by t e'axial ad ustment ofthe battery B in the casing C. The lamp A may be supported for such movement by suitable means, the one illustrated being disclosedin the application of Lee J. Voorhees, Serial No. 466,639, filed May 4, 1921' whichhas matured into Patent.

1,668,881 May 8, 1928. Briefly this arrangement comprises a lamp holder or socket 10 shdable in a central aperture in the reflector, a hehcal spring 11 tending to retain the holder w1th the lamp A at the inner limit of their adjustment and. toimaintai'n'the holder always in contactqwith the central carbon contact of the battery. When the battery is moved against the pressure of the spring, the holder and the lam move therewith along the axis of the re ector, changmg the position of the lam filament with respect to the focus of the re ector and varymg the spread of the rays from the lamp.

The improved means for adjusting the battery B and the lam A in circuit with it comprlsesa combin bulb holder that is adjustabl and detachably coupled to the bottom en of the casing. Q. The end cap desirably contains a relatively rigid receptacle to carry the are part and to engage the bottom end 0 the attery, said receptacle being a conducting element constituting an electrical connection between the battery B and the ca The battery is in circuit with a switch controls the circuit that includes the lamp A in a well known manner.

The and spare lamp holder shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 consists of a capK having a cylindrical body closed at one end 15 and open at the o posite and adjacent to which it'- is provide. with screw threads 16 whereby it may be coupled to and adjusted axially along the threaded portion 17 of the tubular casmg C. The spare part'receptacle or bulb holder is di sed within the cap K and comprises a su stantially tubular shell D of somewhat smaller diameter than the cap, the rear end of the shell D being provided with projections 18 which extend into an interior end cap and sparewhich particular form of combined end cap groove 19 in the cap K and secure the. shell rigidly mounted so they will not rattle and break. A suitable means for engaging and holding the spare parts or lamps comprises curved spring fin ers 20 projectin into the shell D. These ngers are form into ral with a late 21 that has portions exten in under t e projections 18 and is clam e against the inside of the wall 15 by the s ell D. The end of the shell D-adjacent the open end of the cap is open as at 22 to permit the insertion and removal of the lamps between the fingers 20 and the inner wall of the shell D. The outer edge of the shell D is inturned slightly as at 23 to provide a substantially flat, plane or equivalent surface for bearin a ainst and contacting with the bottom of t e attery B.

In operation, as the cap K is turned to screw it onto the casing C, the flange 23 will engiige the battery B and push it and the soc et 10 against the pressure of the sprin 11 to change the position of the filament o the lamp A with respect to the focus of the reflector B. By turning the cap in the reverse direction the compressed spring is free to expand and move the lamp A and its socket to the limit of their movement in the return direction. The threaded cap will retain the lamp A in an position of adjustment, and may be rea y detached from the casin C to obtain access to the spare lamp hol er, the lamps being in sight when the cap is removed.

A esirable ty of end cap and spare lamp holder has 11 shown and described but it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other ty of spare lamp holders and flashli hts wi out departin from the spirit of e invention or sacri cing any of its advantages. For example Fi cs4 and 5 illustrate an end cap an b b holder in which the shell D that forms the spare lamp holder is held in the groove 191 of the cap K b projections 181, as in the form shown in i ures 1, 2 and 3. The outer end of the she D is closed by a cover G that may be detachably fitted therewin any suitable way, and, as ill may be provided with screw threads 28 to cooperate with screw threads 29 on the shell D. The cover G ma be knurledas at 80 to facilitate its remova and the spare art or lamps within the shell D may be eld in place by any suitable means, as by paper or cotton packing 31.

In Fi es 6 and 7 another form of spare lamp ho der is illustrated in which a shell D is held in place in the groove 192 in the cap K by ro ections 182. A narrow cover mem r G latches on the shell an is arr to cover only a art of the open endo theshellDtoenabetheusertosee the spare lamps therein and yet hold them in lace.

Fine and cap and spare lamp holder illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 consists of a shell D" which is held in place in the interior groove 193 of the cap K and has a central rigid projection 35 upon the outer end thereof that is adapted to engage the bottom end of the battery B. The outer wall 36 of the shell D is punched out as shown to provide pairs of intersecting openings37 and 38 of different diameters, the larger opening 37 to admit the bulb of the lamp into the shell and the smaller opening 38 being of a size to receive and engage the base of the lamp to securely hold it.

It will be understood that in all of the combined end cap and spare bulb holders illustrated the shell within the end cap that provides the compartment for holding one or more spare bulbs performs the additional and important functions in the usual flashlight 0 providing a base of considerable area bearing against the bottom of the batteri B to hold it in contact with the lamp soc et and of providing conducting means between the bottom of the battery B and theend cap. In a focusing flashli ht, as illustrated, the spare lamp receptac e also acts as a follower 'd with the end cap to move the battery an adjust the lamp with res ct to the focus of the reflector.

claim:

1. The combination of a cap closed at one end and threaded adjacent its other end whereb it may be adjustably and detachably coupl to a flashlight casing, and spare lamp carrying means secured in said cap comprising a conductive tubular shell spaced from the tubular wall of said cap and lamp holding means inside said shell.

2. The combination of a; cap closed at one end, open at the opposite end and threaded adjacent such open end whereby it may be detachably coupled to a flashlight casing, and a spare lamp carrying shell having one and secured to said cap and the other end arranged for the insertion and removal of a spare lamp, such shell being also arranged to bear against the bottom end of a cell in said casing.

3. The combination of a tubular body threaded adjacent one end whereby it may be coupled to a flashlight casing, a spare lamp holder shell secured in said bod and a cover within said body for said she 4. The combination of a cap threaded adjacent one end whereby it may be detachab y coupled to a flashlight casing spare lamp carrying means comprising a s el secured in said cap, and a cover for said shell adapted to engage against the bottom end of a cell in said casing.

5. The combination of a cap threaded adjacent one end whereby it may be detachably coupled to a flashlight casing, said cap having an interior groove, and a spare lam holder comprising a shell secured in sai aeaaeeo move and shorter than the cap, and a. cover or said shell constructed and adapted to bear against the bottom of a cell in said casing.

6. A flashlight comprising the combination of an incandescent lamp, a reflector, means whereby said lamp and said reflector are relatively adjustable, a battery in circuit with said lamp and movable to effect a rela' tive adjustment of said lamp and said reflector, a casing for said battery, receptacle means bearing against the bottom end of said battery, and an end cap adjustably coupled to said casing and arranged so that its adjustment causes movement of said re ceptacle means and said battery.

7. A flashlight comprising the combination of an incandescent lamp, a supporting member therefor, a reflecting member, means rendering said members relatively adjustable including a spring tending to retain them in one extreme position of adjustment, a bat 13613 bearing against one of said members an movable axially therewith in both di rections, a casing for said battery, a spare part holder bearing against the bottom of said battery, and an end cap carrying said spare part holder and adjustably coupled to said casing.

8. A flashlight comprising the combination of an incandescent lamp, a reflector, a socket for said lamp adjustably mounted in the axis of said reflector, a spring tending to retain said socket in one extreme posi' tion of its adjustment relatively to said reflector, a battery adjustable axially with said socket in both directions, a casing, a conductive spare lamp container engaging the bottom of said battery, and'an end cap carrying said spare lamp container and adjustably and removably coupled to said casing.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

CHARLES OSEAN. 

